Printer&#39;s type planer



ll atented lb,

JT OSFJPH T. IBARTDN AND EJDVTARID ill. OTLJJEARY, 03E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRIN'I'EBS TYPE lELAhl'lElllt.

Application filed March 23, 1921. serial Ito. 454,9?5.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that we, Josnru 'l. BARTON and EDWARD J. OLnanr, both citizens of the United States, residents oil? Chicago, in the county of (fool; and titate oi" llllinois, have invented certain new and usetlhl lmproveinents in l rinters Type Planers, of which the liollowingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in printers type planers. The device at pres- V ent employed in printing shops for planing type forms usually consists of a rectangular block of wood which is laid on the type "form, and a mallet with which the block is tapped as the latter is moved over the taco o l the type form.

The chief objection to this old and common form of type planer lies in the fact that there is no uniilf'orn'iity in the blow or pressure applied to the block by the use of the mallet, and the face of the type is frequently marred and otherwise injured so that the form, when printed, instead of being sharp and distinct, is frequently more or less blurred.

Again, the mallet being separate from the block is sometimes lost or mislaid and valu able time is wasted in trying to locate it. Furthermore, the constant pounding of the mallet creates an objectionable noise, and occasionally involves injury to the hands or fingers of the operators when iilaning type.

Among the leading objects of our present :inventioi'i, are, to provide a type planer wherein the block and the device for applying pressure thereto shall be combined. in a single tool, so that neither of the parts can be separately misplaced or lost; to provide a type wherein the Force or strength of the blow may be so limited as to prevent injury or destruction of the face of the type when forms are being planed; to provide a planer block of such a construction that, when moved over the face of the type, it will. not injure the latter; to provideja type planer which will reduce the noise usually accompanying the operation of such devices; to provide a-type planer which will make impossible the infliction of injury to the hands or fingers of the printer when planning; and, generally, to provide a type planer combining simplicity of construction and operation with low cost and increased facility of operation. With these and other objects in view, which will be apparent from the following detailed description, our in-- projects slightly rectangular block preferably of hard wood,

the lower working taco of which is formed with rounded longitudinal and transverse edges 6 and 2' and rounded corners 8; the purpose or": this latter structural. feature being to enable the block to be easily moved sidewise or endwise over the face of the form without striking and blunting or chipping the fine edges of the type. lln the center of the block 5 is formed a hole or well 9, in which is preferably set a metal cylinder 10, the upper end 10 of which preferably above the top surface of the block 5. The cylinder 10 is preferably stepped. on a leather or fiber disc 11 which fits the bottom of the well 9. Secured to the top of the block 5 by screws 12 is a cover plate 13 having an. upwardly oil'set central portion 14 provided with a central aperture 15 and a countersunk lower edge 16 which fits over the upwardly projecting end 10 of the cylinder or lining 10.

The mallet comprises a metal head or plunger 17 loosely fitting the cylinder 10 and fast on the end of a vertical stem 18 which passes through the hole 15 of the cover and terminates at its outer end in a handle 19. @n the upper side of the plunger 17 is a washer 20 of rubber, felt or other yieldable material which cushions the impact of the plunger 17 against the under side oi the cover portion 14- and deadens the noise.

In the operation of the tool, the block 5 is laid on the type form and, as it is shifted from place to place, the handle is raised and depressed, and owing to the comparatively short vertical stroke of the same, it is impossible to impart excessive blows such as would injure the type. The downward blow is cushioned by the yieldable disc 11, which also greatly reduces the noise of the operation.

.l'n Fig. 3 we show a modification, wherein the block 5 is formed with a central well 24:, and on either side thereof with smaller wells or chambers 25 in which are seated compression springs 26. The plunger head 27 is secured to the lower ends of the stem 28, the latter passing through the aperture 29 in the cover plate 30 and terminating in a knob or handle 31. Also secured to the stem 28 and conveniently integral with the plunger 27 are a pair of lateral arms 32 which extend into the spring chambers 25 and rest upon the upper ends of the springs 26. lVasher-s 11 and 20' similar inlocation and function to the washers 11 and 20 of Fig. 2 are also employed to cushion the blows and deaden the noise. The opera ion of this form of the planer is similar to that of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2-, except that the mallet, after being forced downwardly to strike the blow is automatically returned to raised position by the springs 26. So far as we are aware, our present in vention is the first in the art wherein the planer block and the instrument for transmitting the blows thereto are combined in a single too]. As above pointed out this arrangement involves a number of practical advantages, including the prevention of the loss or misplacement of the mallet, the limitation of the thrust of the latter so as to avoid-injury to the type, the avoidance of injury to the hands or fingers of the operator, and the wearing down of the upper surface of the block through repeated blows or" the mallet. Furthermore since the blow is confined to the center of the block, the force of the blow is uniformly distributed from the middle to each end and the consequent pressure on all of the type covered by the block is uniform.

Manifestly, the structural and operative principles of our invention may find embodiment in other specifically difiereut forms; and hence we do'not limit the invention to. the exact structures herein shown and described, except to the extent clearly indicated in specific claims.

lV-e, claim:

1. A printers type planer, comprising a block, a mallet, and means for connecting said mallet to said block, said connecting means also serving to limit the length of stroke of said mallet on said block.

2'. A printers type planer, comprising a block, a mallet, and means for connecting said mallet, to said block with capacity for a limited up. and down movement relatively to. the. latter.

3., A printers. type planer, compri ing a block, a mallet, and means for confining said mallet on said block, said confining means also. serving to guide the up and down movements of said mallet on. said blockcover plate secured to the top of said block. said cover plate being lornicd with. an aperture torn'iing a guide for said mallet. slcm.

6. A printers type planer. omprising a block. a mallet IGilTlS connecting said mallct to said block with capacity for a limited up and down movement, relatively to the latter. and spring means for urging said mallet to fully raised position.

7. A. printe1"s type planer, comprising a block 'l ormed with acentral chan'lhcr. a mallet having a head slidably mounted in said chamber, a stem exl'omling above said block, and a handle on said stem. moans lor confining said mallet head in said chamber with capacity for a limited up and down movement, and spring means urging said mallet to lully raised position.

8. A printers type planer, comprising :1.

block 'lorined with a central chamber, a mallet having a head shdably mounted in said chamber, a stem extending above said block. and a handle on Said stem. :1. cover plate secured to the top of said blocli anzl formed with an aperture c mst tuling a guide for said stcm, a pair of lateral arms on said stem within said chamber. and a pair of compression springs in said chamber beneath and upholdingsaid arms.

9. A plllll'(.l"h' type planer. comprising a. block lornicd with :1 central chamber. a. mallet having a. head slidably mormlcd in said chamber. means lor confining said n'iallet on said block. and a usllic-ning and sound-demhming washer intcrposml bctwccn the lower Face of said head and the bottom of said chamber.

10. A printers tvpc planer. comprising a. block termed with a central clrambcr. a mallet having a head slidably mounted in said chamber. a cover plate confining said mallet head in said chambcr. a. cushim'linsr ant sound-deadening washer interposedbetween the lower face of said head and the bottom: of said chamber. and a like washer interposed between the upper face ol said head and said cover plate.

JOSEPH T. BARTON. EDYVARD J. OLEARY.

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